Gratitude: a Presciption for Mental and Physical Health

“It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. The Lord is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord.” Lamentations 3: 22-26 (KJV)

Google defines lamentation as the passionate expression of grief or sorrow; weeping. Lamentations, the book in the Bible, was probably written by the prophet, Jeremiah. It tells of the sorrow of Judah after they were conquered by King Nebuchadnezzar in 586 BC.

Really, the Jewish people had a right to complain. They were being taken into captivity. The first 21 verses of chapter 3 describe feelings of abandonment and hopelessness.

These emotions can be as familiar and comfortable as an old coat to people going through trials. Such people know what it’s like to wonder how they’ll ever pick themselves up off the ground and start over.

Amazingly, the author of the Bible book takes a 180° turn and switches to praise and gratitude in the final passages, as noted above. Is it possible for us to do the same?

Back to the Basics

Online articles suggest being grateful for simple items. These include the following:

• Family
• Friends
• Opportunities
• New Beginnings

The Physical Benefits of Gratitude (from ReadersDigest.com)

• Reduces aches and pains as well as stress
• Improves our sleep, social life, and will power

The Psychological Benefits of Gratitude (from IrishExaminer.com)

• Improves psychological health (23% lower levels of stress hormones)
• Reduces the risk for depression, anxiety, and substance abuse
• Helps us cope with trauma
• Boosts appreciation of others and ourselves

“Adversity is an opportunity to learn and grow…You have do-overs.”--A Writersfield article

*****************************

Thomas Edison to a reporter: “I didn’t fail 1,000 times. The light bulb was an invention with 1,000 steps.”—cited from Google

******************************

“Hardships often prepare ordinary people for an extraordinary destiny.”—Todo

Related Posts

Optimism: the Beacon of Light in the Darkness

Celebrating Partial Victories

Counting Your Blessings: an Immediate Mood Booster

Are you boosting your health with gratitude?